Xabi Alonso moves step closer to building dream Chelsea squad to rival Liverpool
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Chelsea is monitoring Porto's Diogo Costa, with Xabi Alonso keen to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer as the Blues look to strengthen following a 10th-place Premier League finish last seasonXabi Alonso is the new Chelsea boss(Image: Getty Images)Chelsea is keeping a close eye on Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa as the Blues weigh up a move for the shot-stopper.Xabi Alonso has just been appointed at Stamford Bridge and faces the task of strengthening a squad that finished a disappointing 10th last season. The Spanish coach will try to beat his former club, Liverpool, to a Champions League qualification spot in the new campaign, after the Reds decided to appoint Andoni Iraola as Arne Slot's successor.With several areas in need of improvement, Costa has emerged as a key target for Alonso.
1 is set to feature at the World Cup, where an impressive showing could push his price tag even higher.Porto currently values Costa at around €60 million ($70 million), a figure the Portuguese club is expected to reassess should he shine during this summer's tournament, according to reports from Record.Porto may have just clinched the Portuguese title, but the club has a well-established track record of letting its finest talent go for the right price.As an academy graduate, Costa's sale would provide a significant boost to Porto's finances, with Chelsea prepared to back its latest manager in the market.Diogo Costa is being linked with Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)Last season, Robert Sanchez served as the Blues' first-choice keeper, though he faced persistent criticism, particularly given Chelsea's ambitions to challenge at the top of the Premier League.Filip Jorgensen was later called upon, but his own errors only reinforced the pressing need for an elite No. 1 at Stamford Bridge.
Costa, who also captains Porto, has long been regarded as one of Europe's finest goalkeepers.Last season, Costa kept 26 clean sheets in 53 appearances for Porto, conceding just 13 league goals in 31 matches.Manchester United was the first Premier League club to seriously entertain the prospect of signing Costa.The Red Devils opted to bring in Andre Onana as David de Gea's successor, but it swiftly became apparent that the Cameroonian was not performing to the required standard and needed to be replaced.Rather than investing significantly in another goalkeeper, the Red Devils instead signed Senne Lammens, leaving Costa very much available on the market.Paris Saint-Germain is likely to pose the greatest challenge to Chelsea in the race for the goalkeeper. Having signed Lucas Chevalier from Lille last summer, the French team found him to be a disappointment, with Matvey Safonov stepping in at the turn of the year.While the Russian has held onto his position, reports suggest he is not necessarily considered the long-term first choice.